科技教育在博物館

Technology Education in the Museum

于瑞珍(Jui-Chen Yu)

《科技博物》 1卷5&6期 (1997/11) Pp. 146-154

https://doi.org/10.6432/TMR.199711.0146

並列摘要

Coldness and unhumanity is most people's impression on technology. There is a joke which can be applied in this situation. A teacher in a class asked: ”Who's in electronic major, please turn off the air condition.” Does it really need a person whose background is in electronic to turn off the air conditioner? Is this really true that it will happen? Though it is a bit of exaggerate but it really happened. The technological progress in daily life is observable, and human being are unconsciously enjoying the convenience and comfort brought by the development of technology. Take the air conditioner mentioned in the above paragraph as an example, it is almost become a necessity for everyday life, the more intelligent the tool is, the more afraid we become of, not to mention the operation procedure of an air conditioner. How many people will know that how a computer chip was produced? When enjoying the massive, sweet fruit, have we ever notice that the controversial question of technical manipulation of sheep and human beings.
Can modern people neglect technology? I think it's difficult to do so. Once the technology was developed, we can not go back to where we were. Take the plastic product as an example, it brings convenience to human beings but it also causes environmental problem. It not only produce the unspoiled garbage but also become our nightmare which is hard to get rid of.
The Definition of Technology:
Normally, people will consider technology is equaled to space shuttle, super conductor, nuclear weapon, etc., or referring computer as technology. Thus led to a thought that to learn computer is equal to learn technology. However, recently we are forced to carefully examine the real meaning of technology. Once we can understand the true meaning of technology so that we can further understand how its application is in our daily life as well as all the impact it has brought to human beings. According to Goetsche & Nelson (1987), technology means ”People use tools, resources and processes to solve problems and expand abilities.” Therefore, the key essences of technology are: human beings, tools, resources, process and problem-solving oriented. Take newspapers as an example to illustrate if it can be regarded as a technology.
1. Involvement of human beings: these include reporters, editors, technician in the printing process, newspapers delivers, and readers.
2. Usage of tools: these include pen, camera, computer, printing machine, etc.
3. Utilization of resources: including water, electricity and ink.
4. Printing process: including interviews, editing, printing, and delivering.
5. Newspapers expand the communication as well as accelerate the delivering of information.
Undoubtedly, newspapers can be counted as a kind of technology. Technology is almost everywhere in our daily life instead of existing in the advanced academic experimental laboratories.
The Goal of Technology Education:
As a technology educator, it has been the most crucial issue to teach publics to bear the ability and attitude to use technology properly as well as to solve the problems caused by the usage of technology. Environmental and ecological issues have arose widely attention in the process of technological advancement, such as the green house effect caused by air pollution, pollution of lakes and rivers caused by undisposable wastes, radiation caused by nuclear test. Some of the problems have existed for a long time but was usually ignored. Progression of medical technology has enabled human beings to live longer than the people in one hundred year ago. The advancement of communication technology shortens the distance of the world but also leads to an isolated human relationships. All these concerns have been a very important portion of technology education.
Technology Education in Museum
National Science and Technology Museum is the first museum of this kind in Taiwan. Apart from the Exhibition Building, there is a Technology Education Center in the southern site of the museum which aims to offer learning opportunities to the public besides the formal school education systems. The other objective is to aid the technology educational activities in the schools. A complete technology education is structured by complementing schools technological curriculum and the interactive, self-autonomous learning activities in the Museum. With the rapid pace of technology progression, the mission of the Museum is to bring to the public the most updated technological applications in our daily life.